O'odham Land -- Ofelia Rivas, O'odham, and Michelle Cook, Dine', broadcast live from O'odham land. Ofelia responds to Trump's announcement that he will bring the military to the border. She also responds to Trump's false accusations about the caravan of migrants coming from Honduras, now in Mexico, heading north.
Ofelia welcomed these migrants, struggling to survive, to O'odham land.
"This militarization is not our way of life on our land."
"We know the conditions they are coming from."
"These people are coming a long way," Ofelia said. "Welcome them."
Ofelia asked people to welcome these migrants with water, food, clothes and shoes.
"Welcome them. This is the O'odham way."
Michelle asks Ofelia about the spy towers now targeting her community on the Tohono O'odham Nation.
The spy towers, integrated fixed towers, are proposed for Ofelia's district. Israel's Apartheid defense contractor Elbit Systems received a U.S. contract from Homeland Security to build these spy towers on the Tohono O'odham Nation.
Ofelia describes the vehicle barrier on the border, which now makes it difficult for families to cross, and carry out ceremonies. Now, O'odham have to carry documents on their own land.
U.S. Border Patrol agents hold guns to the heads of O'odham, demanding documents, when they do not understand English.
Ofelia describes how just recently a U.S. Border Patrol agent parked on the road, and blocked the entrance to her home. Then, he pulled a gun on her when she asked him to leave.
Ofelia describes the spy towers, and the microwave, which will effect all living things on the border, including the bees and other pollinators.
"We will still be here," she said. "And we have a voice."
Ofelia said the traditional O'odham can welcome people to O'odham lands, without political interference.
Michelle asks Ofelia about the border wall which Trump says will be built.
Ofelia says O'odham will continue to oppose these threats, which will bring devastation.
When they dug into the earth to put in the metal poles for the vehicle barrier, she could hear crying at night.
"It sounded like Mother Earth crying."
She said it is very scary for the people to respond, because of the tribal government, tribal police and U.S. Border Patrol.
Michelle said the militarization while she was at Standing Rock was shocking, but this militarization on the border has been going on for many, many years.
Michelle remembered Jose Matus, Yaqui ceremonial leader, who passed to the Spirit World recently. Jose spent his life driving to the Yaqui Pueblos in Sonora, six hours south of Tucson, and bringing back the traditional Yaqui Deer Dancers to lead ceremonies.
"These are ancient ceremonies," Michelle said.
"When there is this buildup of military, they are not able to practice to their ceremonies."
Ofelia describes how Indigenous have not "had a seat at the table."
The U.S. Border Patrol has dragged out pregnant women, and pulled weapons on elderly and forced them on to their knees, in inhumane abuse.
Ofelia urged people to contact their elected leaders and speak out about the abuse.
The U.S. has ruled the proposed spy towers will have "no significant impact" on O'odham and their land.
Ofelia urged people to sign the petition to halt these spy towers.
Michelle said Honduran migrants coming north should not be mistreated, as they are people who are suffering.
"They need to know that there are people here who love and care about them."
"Women and children should not be in danger."
Michelle said they are trying to seek safety, and should not have to hear that Trump is sending the National Guard to the border.
"These people are coming a long way," Ofelia said. "Welcome them."
Ofelia asked people to welcome these migrants with water, food, clothes and shoes.
"Welcome them. This is the O'odham way."
.

Tonight as we broadcast live from O'odam land, we remembered our friend Jose Matus, Yaqui Ceremonial Leader, who was with us on so many journeys, as this one here, as we arrived in La Paz, Bolivia. In La Paz, Michelle Cook, on our video tonight, was arriving from New Zealand. As Jose and I arrived on the same plane, headed to Cochabamba, Bolivia, for the Mother Earth Conference, I had a heart attack, and he helped me stay alive. Some years later, as he crossed the Arizona border, as he had done so many times, bringing Yaqui Ceremonial Leaders here from Sonora, Jose had a heart attack. Jose was with us a few more years. Tonight, Jose was truly "Presente!" as we remembered him, and welcomed Honduran migrants. Listen to our broadcast tonight, with Ofelia Rivas, O'odham, describing the militarization at the border and abuse by U.S. Border Patrol. Ofelia welcomes Hondurans on the migrant caravan to O'odham land. (Photo Jose Matus in La Paz, Bolivia, 2010, photo by Brenda Norrell.)

Alejandro; your words sing. They helped me to calm my anger at what the corporatocracy and their minions are doing. I have to ask, I am fascinated. What great beauty; what great truth is so threatening to the minions, they would go to such trouble and be so scared, they bully women.

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Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell, a journalist in Indian country for 38 years. Norrell created Censored News after she was censored and terminated as a staff reporter at Indian Country Today in 2006. She began as a reporter at Navajo Times during the 18 years that she lived on the Navajo Nation. She was a stringer for AP and USA Today and later traveled with the Zapatistas through Mexico. She has been blacklisted by all the mainstream media for 14 years. Contact brendanorrell@gmail.com

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